Fourth Quarter Newsletter, December 2020

CHAPTER COORDINATOR’S MESSAGE, Ellen Knoefel

Welcome to the year 2021, the year that we have waited so long for and with such high hopes. I am hoping that this finds each of you doing quite well. So many have suffered, and I pray that your issues have been small. I think that you will be like me, both amazed and delighted with the total number of blankets, 3,611, that we were able to give out during this unusual year of challenges. Without the help of each of you this would not have been possible. Although, I know that we are getting closer to the end of this pandemic there will still be many months before we can once again get together as a group. We will continue in the same direction that we have been in for the past nine months. This means dropping off blankets at our drop off locations, meeting me in Hendersonville the first Wednesday of the month, communications by email, text, or phone to address issues or discuss problems, ideas, or suggestions. I ask that you continue to keep up the good work.

RECEIPTS

This year is the first time that we have decided to send out the in-kind receipts at the end of the year instead of quarterly. As you can imagine this will save lots of “office” work. My thanks to Angie Miles and her daughter, Mariam, who have designed the new spread sheet and were able to print out all the receipts showing your donations for the year. This was no easy task, and I am grateful for all their work. We have had a large amount of donations given anonymously which is not a problem, but if you forgot to leave your name with the donation, we had no way of giving you credit. If you find that your receipt does not contain the information that you feel it should, you can call me at 828-645-8800 and we will work together to figure it out.

BLANKET SIZES

Once again, I am asking that you keep the measurements of a small blanket to 36” x 45” and up and not go any smaller. Facilities only want the larger size and even the smallest child will grow rather fast.

If you choose to wash your donation before turning it in that is fine, but please to not use any detergent or drier sheets that are scented. Some of the recipients of the donations have comprised immune systems and the fragrant smells could trigger a reaction.

PHONE CALLS

I have had some wonderful, unexpected phone calls this month. The first coming from a high school student who attends Martin Nesbitt Discover Academy, a high school for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. She said that there was a group at the school that wanted to work with Project Linus, knowing that these were difficult times she was not sure what they could do. This was an answer to a prayer for me and I did not hesitate to ask if they could pick up your donations at the JoAnn’s in Asheville and she did not hesitate to say sure. So, I am thrilled to say that Irma Bond picks up the first week of the month and Sadie and her group pick up the other weeks. Not only do Irma and the “gang” pick up but they sew on labels, pin check, and get them ready for distribution. My second phone call was from Jean Zabel, letting me know that she had been to Asheville Cotton Company and they asked if they could be a drop off location. Best of all she said that she would oversee picking up those donations and getting them to me. You will see at the end of this newsletter we are listing a new drop off location. Those of you who live in S Asheville should find this a convenient spot and a great place to shop. Keep those calls coming, it does take a village to keep things moving ahead.

WEIGHTS BLANKETS

I recently received a request for 24 weighted blankets, which has helped us reduce the large inventory that we have on hand. If you are someone who likes to make these blanket shells, we will be needing more. I am ordering Velcro, so call if you need some.

McDOWELL COUNTY

Thanks to your generous donations we have now added another county, McDowell, to our list. Mary Ledbetter has graciously agreed to be the contact for this area. If you know of a facility in this area that might like Project Linus blankets, please let us know.

SUPPLIES

If you need any supplies, you can email or call me, and we can work out meeting so that I can give you kits, batting, Velcro etc. Our meeting in Hendersonville is the first Wednesday of the month, weather permitting. Connie, Herb, Gene, and I will be there at 11:30 in the parking lot of the Blue Ridge Mall, in the back behind JoAnn’s. This is another good time to get supplies if you let me know what you might need.

ALWAYS REMEMBER TO FORGET THE TROUBLES THAT PASS YOUR WAY.

BUT NEVER FORGET THE BLESSINGS THAT COME EACH DAY.

BLANKET DROP-OFF SITES

Asheville:

JoAnn Fabric and Craft Store

80 S Tunnel Road

Asheville Cotton Company

1378 Hendersonville Road STE B

Hendersonville:

Grace Lutheran Church (currently closed)

1245 Sixth Avenue West

JoAnn Fabric and Craft Store

Blue Ridge Mall Shopping Center

Sheridan Kay Quilting

1680 Spartanburg Highway

Weaverville:

5 Little Monkeys Quilt and Sew

32 North Main Street

FOURTH QUARTER STATISTICS

In Out

October 176 240

November 559 419

December 555 609

Fourth Quarter Totals 1290 1268

With these latest numbers our chapter has now distributed 78,993 blankets!

Number of knitted dolls and stuffed animals donated and distributed this quarter: 178

Weighted blankets donated to date: 1,316

COUNTY CONTACTS

Chapter Coordinator

Ellen Knoefel 828-645-8800

Buncombe County

Ennis Julian 702-499-3567

Cherokee, Clay, and Graham Counties

Ellen Knoefel 828-645-8800

Haywood County

Mariam Howell 828-456-5154

Henderson County

Helen McConnell 828-779-0361

Jackson and Macon Counties

Ellen Knoefel 828-645-8800

Madison County

Nancy Fish 828-768-1344

McDowell County

Mary Ledbetter maryledbetter@hotmail.com

Mitchell County

Janet Jackson 661-319-8286

Transylvania County

Pat Crawford 828-883-8746

Yancy County (new contact)

Susan Yaskin ssyaskin@aol.com